"London" a London Travel Page by reeka

This picture was not taken in London but in Nashville by a good friend of mine who I met whilst living in London and lived with for approximately 6 months.

This London page is dedicated to all friends who I lived with during my 3 years there, you know who you are!!!

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I moved to London when I was 18 years old, the first time I had lived away from home. I was ready to leave too, it was the right time for me, however having said that didn't mean that I wasn't scared.

I left home the day after Princess Diana died, and to live a few blocks away from the palace in which she lived was a strange experience, especially in the first few weeks as I had become accustomed to seeing Kensington Gardens awash with flowers, so many flowers it was unbelievable and it covered the whole area in front of her gates and beyond, anyone who has ever been the Kensington Gardens will understand how big an area this is. When they eventually took the flowers away after a while, it was very strange to see the gardens so bare and empty.

All in all I lived in London close to 3 years, returning after the death of my grandfather after which I wanted to spend time with my family for a while, and sort out what I wanted to do with my life. Not that I have found the answers yet, and that was in the year 2000.

Whilst in London I was lucky enough to live in South Kensington, which was not only very central but a very nice neighbourhood to live in. I lived in a hostel where I had to share a room with 2 others, now this is not your typical hostel in which the occupants change every other day or so, this was a hostel especially for long term stays, and I was one of the lucky ones who got to share a room with the same 2 girls for most of the 3 years that I lived there. Whilst here I was lucky enough to meet lots of people from all over the world who today I still keep in contact with, which is handy if ever I'm in need of a place to stay ;-)

South Kensington, the borough of in my humble opinion the most beautiful building in London, The Natural History Museum. Round the corner from that is the Science Museum and cross the street the Victoria and Albert Museum, also known as the V&A. These are all situated on Cromwell Road, one of the main roads leading into central London from the west.

I lived on Queens Gate, which if you walk up will take you to the gates of Kensington Gardens, which adjoins Hyde Park. This used to be one of my favourite and regular walks through London.

Start off in Kensington Gardens making my way through Hyde Park past the Serpentine Lake out by the Green Park exit, through Green Park, up the Mall which brings you out by Buckingham Palace. Besides BP there is the St James's Park with it's lakes and birdlife. Cross the bridge to the other side and you'll eventually come out by the War Cabinet Rooms. Walk up the steps, you'll come out by a busy road, to your left will be Downing Street and further along eventually Trafalgar Square and The West End. To your right, The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, The Embankment along the River Thames, which in itself is a great walk.

London is your oyster.